High mercury levels in U.S. fish

May 6, 2011

Authorities recently found high levels of radiation — five to six times the legal limit — in fish caught near the damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Japan. Samples of water taken from around the Fukushima facility have tested as high as 7.5 million times more radioactive than the legal limit.

While Americans may not have cause to be concerned about radioactive fish, there are other reasons to leave fish off your plate. During a seven-year study, U.S. Geological Survey scientists found mercury in every single fish they tested. More than a quarter of the fish tested had mercury levels that exceeded the EPA’s safety limits for the average fish-eater.

Other studies have found that fish in rivers across the U.S. are tainted with medications and common household chemicals.

None of us would dream of drinking water tainted by sewage, pesticides, heavy metals and other contaminants. So why would anyone risk their health by eating the fish that are pulled from this toxic brew? To find out more, please visit www.PETA.org.